According to the poll, 53 percent are in favor of same sex marriage, with 30 percent saying they would vote against the legalization of same sex marriage in any referendum. Some 17 percent of respondents had no opinion on the matter.

The Constitutional Convention will meet for the first time this weekend. It is made up of 100 people, 66 of whom were chosen as a representative sample of the Irish public, along with 33 politicians from political parties on both sides of the border. It will be chaired by Tom Arnold, the CEO of Concern Worldwide.

Explaining the significance of the convention, Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Eamon Gilmore said: “as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Bunreacht na hEireann, the Government has established a process to ensure that our Constitution is equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”

“Along with the Chair, each member of the Convention has an important job to do on behalf of Irish society and I look forward to the outcome of their deliberations.”

The MRBI 50th anniversary poll conducted among a representative sample of 1,000 voters aged 18 and over, in face-to-face interviews at 100 locations in all 43 constituencies.